Bingo arm - a holding device used to hold tickets and/or money in the air to keep the player&#39;s arm from getting tired while playing the game of bingo

ABSTRACT

An apparatus to help a Bingo player secure their money, tickets, and cards. As tickets are sold in the game of Bingo, the money is collected by “Runners” who go from table to table. You must hold your money in the air for the “Runner” to see and collect it from you. This can be a long wait, so the function of The Bingo Arm is to hold your money, tickets, or cards in the air, thereby allowing the player to focus on the game and relieve strain on their arms.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit under 35 USC 119(e) of Provisional Patent Application No. 60/474,002 (Filing Date May 28, 2003) as stated in the Application Data Sheet.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable.

REFERENCE TO SEQUENCE LISTING, A TABLE, OR A COMPUTER PROGRAM LISTING COMPACT DISK APPENDIX

Not Applicable.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention pertains to a holding device used as a game accessory, specifically for the game of Bingo, although a similar use may be applied to other games. This holding device allows for the display of money and tickets to be picked up by Bingo Runners.

Many devices are know in the prior art of game aids, card holding and signaling devices as those disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,572,510, 4,254,404, 5,358,246, 4,500,091, 4,555,084, 4,453,714, 4,948,139, 5,054,783, and 5,124,683. While these devices assist players with managing various functions such as holding game cards, they do not include the structural, manufacturing, or operational advantages of the invention to be set forth and described in detail hereinafter.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The Bingo Arm is a holding device intended to make playing the game of Bingo more enjoyable by relieving the player of the burden of holding money, tickets, or cards high in the air for substantial periods of time while waiting for Bingo Runners to arrive.

The device described herein consists of a clip to hold the money, tickets, or cards that is injection molded of plastic or related material. The clip is mounted on top of an arm consisting of several injection molded plastic tubes, manufactured and assembled in a telescoping manner. The arm of the device is mounted on a hinge to an injection molded base, allowing the arm to be retracted and folded down into a convenient form for transport. The overall design of the folded base, arm, and clip is smooth and streamlined to allow easy stowage in the player's purse or carrying bag without concern for snagging or otherwise damaging the contents thereof.

The main object of this invention is to enable the player of bingo to focus on the game at hand while providing relief for the arms of said player from having to hold money, tickets, or cards in the air.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING

The drawings for this invention consist of six views labeled FIGS. 1 through 6.

FIG. 1 is the main view, showing The Bingo Arm in it's fully extended upright position. The parts are labeled as the clip, the tubes components of the arm, and the base and are further described in the detailed description of the invention.

FIG. 2 is an isometric view of the top of The Bingo Arm in it's fully retracted and folded position.

FIG. 3 is an exploded bottom view of the base, labeled and further described in the detailed description.

FIG. 4 is similar to FIG. 3 except it is the exploded top view of the invention.

FIGS. 5 & 6 are cross-sectional views of the invention. FIG. 5 details the clip showing the grasping points and FIG. 6 is a detail of the telescoping tube joint showing the interlocking retaining lips.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The Bingo Arm is a holding device used as a game accessory in the playing of the game of Bingo. The invention is an improvement over other game accessories in that it's simple design make it much more practicable in actual use. It's sleek compact design when in the retracted, folded configuration is also a significant advancement that allows for better stroage and transport The invention is an injection molded apparatus made of plastic or similar material, therby simplifying manufacture and anssembly. FIG. 1 shows the major components of the invention in it's fully extended and upright position. In FIG. 1, the main components are the clip (1), telescoping arm tubes (2,3,4), the telescoping arm tube bottom member (5), and the base (6). This view (FIG. 1) is the operational configuration of the invention that is used during the playing of the game of Bingo.

FIG. 2 shows the invention in it's fully retracted and folded position. This view (FIG. 2)is the operation configuration used in the transport and storage of the invention. FIG. 2 shows the retracted, folded view of the clip (1), the telescoping arm (2), and the base (3.)

FIGS. 3 and 4 show bottom and top exploded views of the base respectively. In FIG. 3 of the invention, the exploded bottom view of the base consists of a bottom base plate (1), an inner base plate (2) for structural integrity and to add weight, a section of the telescoping arm (3), the groove channel (4) of the base that accepts the folded arm, the base itself (5), and the hinge pin assembly (6.)

The shape of the base in it's folded position is smooth and contoured such that the invention will fit neatly into a purse of carrying bag. There are no sharp protruding points to catch on the contents of said purse.

The hinge pin assembly (FIG. 3, item 6) is constructed as part of the injection mold to consist of two pin protrusions which interlock (snap into) two corresponding holes. This attaches the lower end of the telescoping arm to the base in such a manner that it can be folded or unfolded.

The dip shown in FIG. 5 is injection molded as one piece. A square hole at the bottom end fits snugly over the top telescoping tube. There is a vertical slot in the dip with slight opposing protrusions (FIG. 5, item 1) that act as grippers when forced apart by money, tickets, or game cards.

The telescoping arm is injection molded and consists of 4 segments. The segments are square tubes that are assembled in a nested telescoping fashion (FIG. 1, items 2-5.) A cross-sectional detail of one of the tubes is shown in FIG. 6. The upper tube (2) of this assembly fits into the lower tube (5) so that the tube can slide up and down to extend or retract. The tube are prevented from overextending by the interlocking top tube lip (4) and the bottom tube lip (3). 

1. A game accessory holding device consisting of a base, telescoping arm, and clip to hold money, tickets, or game cards.
 2. The invention as set forth in claim 1 shall be composed entirely of injection molded plastic or similar material for ease of manufacturing and assembly.
 3. The invention as set forth in claim 2 is an improvement of similar game aids in that the composition of the device, namely injection molded plastic or similar material, is corrosion resistant, thereby suitable for use and transport in a variety of environmental conditions.
 4. The invention as set forth in claim 1 wherein said dip is made on a single injection molded piece formed by a smoothly curved upper part and a lower jaw with opposing small projections that, when forced apart by money, tickets, or cards, will grab said objects and hold them.
 5. The invention as set forth in claim 1 wherein said telescoping arm consists of three square tubes nested inside of each other so that they may extend or retract.
 6. The invention as set forth in claim 5 wherein the outer telescoping tube contains a formation on the bottom consisting of two lateral projections with holes that will align with pins on the base to form a hinge allowing the retracted arm to be folded into the base.
 7. The invention as set forth in claim 5 wherein the telescoping tubes are designed with opposing lips on the ends so that when assembled in a nested fashion, the lip of one tube acts as a stop against the lip of the next tube thereby limiting the extended length of the arm and preventing the tubes from sliding too far.
 8. The invention as set forth in claim 1 wherein the base is injection molded in a smooth and rounded aerodynamic shape with a channel indentation along the top to accept the retracted folded arm.
 9. The invention as set forth in claim 8 wherein the base will have two molded pin
 10. The invention as set forth in claim 8 wherein the base, arm, and dip will form a smooth unit when retracted and folded so as to fit neatly in a purse or carrying bag without snagging the contents thereof. 